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Spinning

VANOC’s cut a new groove.

It adds to its ever growing collection of songs heard to date. This new tune, is destined to be labeled – “Only At Oly”. Ardent fans will immediately recognize the supporting band playing it’s hard rhythms heard on other songs.

The lead singer on this cut seems new although there is a hint that he was part of the vocal team who sang back up on earlier records. Word has it that he was the lead singer of the group Wright and Righteous.

This new groove stands out. A cut above the others, this one belts out great lyrics beginning with “Yesterday, VANOC took it a step further”! Leaving the listener begging, you ask for more as the song’s demanding beat asks “businesses to help cut back the use of public transit at peak times for Olympic fans.”

Moral tones implying citizen responsibility at times, overpower the listener. The lyrics repeatedly suggest to those listening to forgo comfort and cost as VANOC pursues Olympic’s best by implying all should accept an Olympic behavioral change. The change, the tune – alter your life! Don’t use public transportation when needed, so that others might.

Up Beat Brow Beat

“We’re asking people to leave [work] either before 2 p.m. or after seven.”

Shaking your head you wonder if the boys like Terry Wright, a VANOC vice-president, are smoking something prohibited by the Olympic drug squad.

Presumptuous Pontiffs

“VANOC is encouraging people ‘to practise,’ said Wright. “It takes time for people to transition to a new pattern of behavior.”

You have to ask yourself, do these Olympic spin jockeys have any idea of the impact they have on locals?

Never mind the cost to employers, married or partnered employees and their families, consider the singular effect on a young mother. How is she to accommodate such a behavioral change. Will her day-care then keep its doors open till after 7 pm. If they do, at what cost? Will VANOC chip in for this “transition?” Will it “practice” a bit of gratuity by at least offering seats at the opening ceremony to those like the single mother who can not afford the high ticket price? That certainly would be a “behavioral transition” that is more worthy than demanding that businesses and workers change to accommodate Olympic revelers. It remains strange that VANOC doesn’t seem to “practice” what it preaches. They seem entrenched in the “You Do” formula.

You Do

And what if ‘You Do’ as VANOC Wright’ly suggests. What then of the home-alone kids in the interim hours? Will VANOC then ask teachers to get along and go along with this behavioral change by providing a month of extended PRO-D days as a helping hand during the Olympics. Will VANOC’s proclamation reach further out to the children themselves as they adapt to serve these lords of the rings. Will they the children be able to, while waiting for their parents to arrive on their later bus, make the ‘transition’ to the cold and wet evenings. Will these urchins stand proud on the street as they greet now tired parants while waving Olympic flags?

Optics

While the comparison is admittedly extreme, the optics of this, our Olympic 5 ring sport circus incantation, resembles the earliest drum beats of a despots regime. Citizens! – ‘drink the juice’! It will make your ‘transition to a new pattern of behavior’ palatable.

With You Do respect, one hums the chorus of ‘Only at Oly’ as you ask Mr. Wright if this, his new Olympic tune, will stand in the Journal of Olympic Do’s and Don’t’s? At a glance this new citizen behavioral change seems to be more like a final scrape across an old ’45. The scrape, it’s irritation, it’s distortion of the music now Olympic in size, compells you to stop listening deciding instead, to throw the record away as you ride your regular bus to work!

Rogge’s Groove

Remaining is whether citizens of Vancouver recall this being part of contractual obligation to host the Olympics? Is Mr. Wright making this up as he spins a new groove on the Olympic ’45 or, worse, could it be that these Wright ideas were buried in the fine print leaving citizens as dust unwittingly trapped in a vinyl morass of Rogge grooves?

Wondering out loud one asks if the glory and the personal cost of the Olympics is facing its own behavioral change. This may sound like a lot of hisses and pops on an old record but, just in case, are you also wondering what ’45 is VANOC really playing? Are you also wondering what game is spinning on the Olympic turntable when VANOC asks Vancouver citizens to change their behavior?

About Larry Yatkowsky

Larry is a recognized real estate expert. A veteran professional, his experienced counsel leads Vancouverites in his west side community to place their trust
in a man passionate about his work. Uncompromising ethics bring a balanced approach to realizing your real estate dreams.

*Disclaimer: Statistics Courtesy REBGV. While believed to be accurate they are not guaranteed.
**Numbers provided may vary as they are dynamically posted by the REBGV.

Reader Comments:

Chris Taylor Says:

December 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 am

The fact that VANOC needs to tell people this is the problem. I’m aware that my commute will be worse during the Olympics, especially during the evening rush hour as many events have 4-6pm start times. Thus I’ve already decided I’m going to change my schedule.

Its like going to the gym in Jan. There’s always more people who will only be around for a few weeks/months, yet it impacts us regulars as the gym gets very crowded. I change my schedule for Jan and workout in the early morning or late evening. It sucks to change, yet I’m smart enough to recognize it and change without Fitness World having to tell me.

I’ll be working at home, or working 6am-3pm during the Olympics… that is when I’m not at hockey games!

Chris,
Some are lucky to be able to have that flexibility. The un-sung issue I think is for those who don’t have that luxery. What do they do?

As an aside, there is discussion within the REALTOR community regarding the ability to show and sell homes during this period. No parking, no stopping in the majority of the downtown core are just two of the problems. What remains uncertain is the overall ability to move around and within the secure zones. Could be bubble deflating! 🙂

Chris Taylor Says:

December 29th, 2009 at 9:39 am

All those new buyers who aren’t financially savy will be wasting their downpayments on tickets! Who’s going to be able to buy a condo when hockey tickets are $1000 each and figure skating tickets double that! 🙂